Internet-related disintermediation — reduction in the use of intermediaries — has been complicating the work of Higher Ed Advancement professionals for at least a decade. The impact hasn’t been as dramatic as in the private sector, where the rise of e-commerce devastated established industries such as journalism and bookselling. There is little doubt, however, that the emergence of digital networks that make it easy for people to find each other and organize group activity, as well as produce and share content, has reduced the effectiveness and efficiency of many core elements of the Communications and Alumni Relations toolkits. And with the emergence of crowdfunding, Development officers are being forced to come to grips with a new reality in which they no longer have a monopoly on the tools of fundraising.

In this show, originally aired on May 13, Host Andrew Gossen explored the impact of disintermediation in Advancement with a trio of experts representing the three Advancement disciplines: Missouri University of Science and Technology’s Andy Careaga (Communications), MIT’s Christine Tempesta (Alumni Relations), and the Cornell Annual Fund’s Jennifer Kwiatkowski (Fundraising). The conversation included a range of examples and suggested strategies for coping with disintermediation that focus on listening, delivering value, collaboration, and empowering audiences to help achieve institutional goals.